POWELL, Tenn. – Traffic congestion and delays have been a recurring concern for many residents in the Powell area, especially along the stretch of I-75 near Emory Road. While the Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) has been addressing several issues on East Tennessee roads, the Powell community is still waiting for much-needed updates to alleviate the traffic bottleneck.
Debbie Sherman, a local resident, expressed her frustration with the current situation. “There are people getting on the interstate that don’t really need to go through all these lights,” Sherman said. “We had heard that there was going to be a project, but we have been waiting a couple of years, so I was like ‘okay, what is happening with it?’”
Sherman’s concerns are shared by many in the area who face daily delays. According to TDOT, plans to improve the I-75 interchange at Emory Road have been in the works since 2022, with construction slated to begin in August 2025.
The project will involve the installation of a diverted diamond interchange, similar to the one at Exit 407 on I-40 in Sevier County. TDOT’s Mark Nagi explained how the new interchange will function. “Motorists wishing to travel either eastbound or westbound will navigate through two traffic signals and perform crisscross maneuvers,” Nagi said. “Motorists traveling westbound can go straight through the interchange or access southbound or northbound I-75.”
The diverted diamond interchange is designed to reduce traffic delays by allowing drivers to switch sides of the road temporarily, creating smoother transitions and more efficient flow of vehicles. In addition to the interchange, TDOT plans to include sidewalks to enhance pedestrian safety in the area.
For residents like Sherman, the new project promises relief, though they’ve had to wait for several years. With construction on the horizon, local commuters are hopeful that the improvements will bring much-needed changes to the area’s traffic flow, making their daily drives less frustrating.
As the project moves forward, TDOT is continuing to update the public on construction timelines and expected impacts on local roads. For now, Powell residents will have to wait until August for the project to begin – but the end result could significantly ease the burden of daily traffic in the region.
